Let’s Talk Tie-Breakers

9 years ago

The Western Conference playoff race is packed tighter than a clown car right now. It’s extremely possible that Calgary could end up tied in points with the other teams in the race. That would push things to the NHL’s standings tie-breakers.

Let’s check out where the Flames sit in regards to those tiebreakers.

THE TIE-BREAKERS

From the NHL website:

The greater number of games won, excluding games won in the Shootout. This figure is reflected in the ROW column.
The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs. If two clubs are tied, and have not played an equal number of home games against each other, points earned in the first game played in the city that had the extra game shall not be included. If more than two clubs are tied, the higher percentage of available points earned in games among those clubs, and not including any “odd” games, shall be used to determine the standing.
The greater differential between goals for and against for the entire regular season. NOTE: In standings a victory in a shootout counts as one goal for, while a shootout loss counts as one goal against.

REGULATION/OT WINS

Calgary & Winnipeg: The Flames have 39 regulation/OT wins, the Jets have 34. The gap is larger than the number of games remaining, so Calgary is guaranteed to win this tie-breaker.

Calgary & Los Angeles: The Flames have 39 regulation/OT wins, the Kings have 37. Each team has 3 games left. Calgary holds the tie-breaker now, but is not guaranteed to (yet).

HEAD-TO-HEAD POINTS

There is an uneven number of games in each season series – Calgary/Winnipeg and Calgary/Los Angeles – so the team with the extra home game has that first game not count for tie-breakers. (So both Winnipeg and Los Angeles have their first game drop off.)

Calgary & Winnipeg: Calgary won the first game in regulation and have 2 of a possible 4 points (with the last game of the season pending). This tie-breaker won’t be necessary, but the Flames have at least a tie here – if Winnipeg wins in regulation on Saturday, they get a tie. Again, though, this won’t come into play.

Calgary & Los Angeles: Calgary has 4 of a possible 6 points (by virtue of a regulation win, an overtime win and a regulation loss). Los Angeles has 3 of a possible 6 points (by virtue of a regulation loss, an overtime loss and a regulation win). This tie-breaker will come down, most likely, to the final game on Thursday between the two teams.

A Flames regulation or overtime win gives Calgary the outright win in this tie-breaker. (And also clinches the ROW tie-breaker from before.)
A Kings overtime or shootout win makes this category a tie and pushes everything to the next tie-breaker.
A Kings regulation win gives them the outright win in this tie-breaker.

GOAL DIFFERENTIAL

The final tie-breaker is total goal differential.

Calgary & Winnipeg: Calgary has a +26 differential, Winnipeg has a +16 differential. But since Calgary has the ROW tie-breaker, it’s not relevant.

Calgary & Los Angeles: Calgary has a +26 differential, Los Angeles has a +16 differential.

I LIKE TABLES

	Flames vs. Winnipeg	Flames vs. Los Angeles
Magic Number	4 (3.5 due to tie-breakers)	4
Regulation and Overtime Wins	Calgary 39, Winnipeg 33; Flames win	Calgary 39, Los Angeles 37; Flames lead
Head-to-Head Points	Flames lead 2-0** (a game remaining)	Flames lead 4-3** (a game remaining)
Goal Differential	Calgary +26, Winnipeg +16; Flames lead	Calgary +26, Los Angeles +16; Flames lead